The Best Mattress for Lower Back Pain

Finding a comfortable mattress when you're dealing with lower back pain can be a difficult task. With so many different choices available it is hard to determine what would be best for you. Making matters worse, you have all sorts of proponents of various types of mattresses all claiming to be the best for your lower back pain. But let's face it; they can't all be the best. That leaves us asking ourselves, "How do we make the choice?"

Regardless of manufacturer, construction methods, and materials used, the ultimate choice of the best mattress for each individual comes down to personal comfort. If you have lower back pain you may find a particular mattress extremely comfortable, while a friend or coworker would find it just the opposite. Unfortunately, because mattresses are so expensive many people are afraid to purchase for fear of spending a lot of money on the wrong choice. If you have lower back pain, this certainly is no way to live. Do as much research as you need to do in order to feel as comfortably informed as possible, and you should be okay.

Determine the Cause of Your Pain

Paramount to determining what type of mattress you purchase is discovering what is causing your lower back pain. In the vast majority of cases it is pulled muscles and other stress factors working together to cause muscle pain and put pressure on the lower joints of the back. There are some cases when lower back pain is caused by a slipped disc, arthritis, or sciatica. It's important to know when you consider the wrong mattress type could exacerbate a problem rather than help it.

According to experts, when lower back pain is caused by muscle pulls and other stress-related issues, a firm mattress is best. You need that firmness in order to support the back and allow it to keep its naturally straight line. If the mattress is too soft it simply puts more pressure on your lower back, making it worse. A good way to test this is to lie on your back and wait a few minutes for your body to settle. Once settled, if you feel your shoulders and buttocks sagging, the mattress is too soft.

If you're suffering from sciatica, on the other hand, doctors recommend a softer mattress because it allows the shoulders and buttocks to sink while putting slight upward pressure on the center and lower back. This slight upward pressure apparently relieves sciatica to some extent. A mattress that is too firm tends to exacerbate sciatica.

Flat Versus Upright

Some people suggest an adjustable mattress similar to what you see in the hospital for those with lower back pain. Again, this depends largely on the cause of your back pain. However, as a general rule experts suggest that most lower back pain sufferers would do better to lie flat. Lying in a slightly elevated position might temporarily bring comfort, but it's likely to make the stress-related issues worse, thus causing an increase in back pain.

On the other side of the equation, an adjustable hospital mattress that can be left flat under the back, but slightly elevated under the legs, does seem to help some people. A slight elevation of the legs may take the pressure off distressed areas of your back and provide tremendous relief. The only downside is that it doesn't allow you to roll to your side very effectively. Keep that in mind when you are deciding between a flat sleep position and a slightly elevated one.

Coil Spring Versus Other Mattress Types

Coil spring mattresses take a lot of heat because of their propensity for creating pressure points. However, back pain sufferers can find relief with a coil spring mattress if they take the time to pay attention to what they're buying. Doctors suggest that people looking at coil spring mattresses should seek out models with larger numbers of smaller springs rather than the other way around. The more springs in the mattress the better your weight will be distributed and the more support you'll get. On the other hand, extremely overweight people will need a mattress with stronger and heavier springs. This is something you should talk over with a salesperson.

Foam and the memory foam are probably not good choices for individuals with stress-related back pain or sciatica. That's because foam mattresses contour to the shape of a user and "hug" the body. You most likely will not get enough support with a foam mattress, nor would you be able to roll easily without causing additional pain.

For those whose back pain is caused by arthritis, foam and memory foam mattresses are one of the best options. Arthritis pain is such that cushioning and immobilizing the affected joints is the best thing for them. The body hugging properties of foam make them ideal for just such an application. Keep in mind that foam mattresses don't deal well with perspiration, so you'd probably need a mattress topper or linens that are specifically designed to wick moisture away.

Lastly, it goes without saying that individuals with lower back pain should probably avoid waterbed mattresses. If you're looking for a mattress that combines the best of the coiled spring and foam in a single package, the adjustable air mattress might be your best choice. The adjustable air mattress allows the user to control the firmness with the touch of a button. The only thing you need to worry about with adjustable air mattresses is the number of air chambers. The more independent chambers a mattress has, the more flexibility you have in controlling firmness and overall comfort.

Sleep Position

The last thing to consider if you have lower back pain is the position you typically sleep in. If you are a side sleeper you have a much more difficult choice in mattresses because of the amount of stress your chosen position is putting on your spinal column. For you, firmness is an absolute must. The idea of sleeping on your side properly is to keep the spine aligned as straight as possible. That means you're going to need a mattress that supports both your shoulders and hips simultaneously.

You can use the same test as mentioned earlier in this article; if you lie on mattress and your shoulders and hips sink it will be too soft. On the other hand, you should not feel more than just a slightly upward pressure on your shoulders and hips, otherwise the mattress is too firm. The closer you can get to that middle ground, where you barely notice your shoulders and hips either way, the closer you are to ideal firmness. Since finding the ideal will be difficult, err on the side of too firm rather than too soft.

If you're a front or back sleeper your choice is significantly easier. Just remember to give adequate time for testing mattresses when you go shopping. In other words, it takes several minutes for your body to settle in bed once you lie down. Therefore lying down for a minute or two will not be sufficient enough for you to make an informed decision. Make sure you can devote 10 to 15 minutes per mattress. This will give your body enough time to settle so that you can really see how it feels.